D-FW commercial building starts were down 63 percent from a year ago in October, according to Dodge Data & Analytics.

A steep slide in commercial building pulled down total North Texas construction activity in October.

That's been the trend for most of 2018, according to the latest report from Dodge Data & Analytics.

Nonresidential building starts plunged 63 percent in the Dallas-Fort Worth area in October from a year earlier.

So far in 2018, commercial building D-FW has fallen 34 percent from this time last year.

Residential building - both single-family homes and apartments - also fell by 4 percent in October from the same month in 2017, Dodge Data says.

Through the first 10 months of 2018, residential builders have started more than $12 billion in North Texas projects, an increase of 7 percent from the same period last year.

Commercial construction in the area has totaled just under $7 billion so far in 2018, compared with almost $10.5 billion a year ago, according to Dodge Data.

Nationwide building activity rose by more than 20 percent in October, fueled by a jump in commercial construction.

"Earlier, decreasing construction starts for nonresidential building during this year's third quarter raised some concern, suggesting that this sector may have already peaked and is now in decline," Dodge Data economist Robert Murray said in the report. "The strong October performance indicates that nonresidential building construction starts continue to proceed at an elevated pace, at least for the present."

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In 2017 the D-FW saw a record $22 billion in construction starts - behind only New York City for total building.

And even with this year's 13 percent total declines, D-FW has continues to trail only New York in total building in 2018, according to Dodge Data.